As the pending southern hemisphere winter knocks on our door, we are faced with many minor headaches across all of our properties; but none are more annoying than mold buildup in bathrooms and laundry rooms.

Last season it was an exceptionally cold winter for us and the amount of heavily built up mold I saw in bathrooms and laundry rooms was at monumental levels. Crazy doesn’t have to be! There are a few simple tricks to prevent mold from taking over your bathroom and damaging your paint (which could create bond issues for tenants) and, more importantly, your health.

Mold removal should be part of any cleaning routine and must be controlled to reduce the likelihood of mold growth. After 10 years in Tropical North Queensland, Australia, one thing I have had a lot of experience with is mold; we used to have mold on everything, and I mean everything. If you’re old enough to remember VHS video tapes, even they will have mold on them.

So what to do to control mold this coming winter? – If you have a fan in the bathroom, be sure to use it. Always turn on the bathroom fan while you shower, and make sure you leave it running long enough after you’re done to help move moisture out of the bathroom.

For those of you lucky enough to have the old IXL Tastic (heat, fan and light) make sure you have it on, the heater globes will help keep moisture buildup to a minimum while the fan will carry out the obvious work.

If you only have one window, be sure to open it up a bit. I know the idea of ​​this isn’t much fun in 2 degree weather, but keeping moisture buildup from steam to a minimum is paramount; This of course also applies to laundries, especially when tumble dryers are used. Another good idea while using a tumble dryer is to make sure the laundry room door is open, it will not only allow for ventilation but also help keep the house warmer.

Finally, if (and when, since you won’t always be able to keep mold at bay) you have a bottle of bleach spray, not the expensive stuff, but plain household bleach. It costs next to nothing and a few short, strong squirts on the affected area will usually kill mold in its tracks. No spraying or rubbing necessary, just spray and leave, ideally when the area is dry, not just after you shower as it will thin out and be less effective.

These simple tricks will help you survive the mildew attack that has become so prevalent during the long, cold winters.

It’s also worth noting that as a renter, you’re most likely liable for any damage caused by mold. Left unchecked and unchecked, mold can eat away at paint and even walls. So control any mold that is starting to appear now, and this will help keep unsightly growth away and can help your health too!